Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of the stuff J.K. Rowling created.

Chapter Nineteen

My Friends Are So Understanding

"Hey Keep! Great job in the match. I'm sorry I couldn't get to you sooner but…" Gary stopped when he looked down at the figure next to me. "What the hell happened to you?" he asked Sirius, who was looking at him with an irritated and definitely girl look.

"What are you doing here?" Sirius demanded while James looked up sharply at the sound of Gary's voice. Remus groaned and covered his eyes with his hands while I hit my head against the table. We were thinking the exact same thing; Here we go…

"I was congratulating Nike. She was bloody brilliant yesterday," Gary said, looking at both me and Remus with (and I'm pretty sure only I could tell what it was) a slightly worried expression.

Tonks and Lily looked at each other and smirked. Oh no, I thought. This is about to get ugly.

"You know what Napier?" Lily said slowly, her angelic face not showing the slightest sign of any mischievousness.

"Hmm?"

"Besides for Remus, you're the first guy to tell her that."

"Everything else was just about them and only them," Tonks agreed, shaking her head sadly, looking pointedly at James and Sirius.

"What?" Gary turned to glare at James and Sirius (Selene).

"It's really none of your business, so why don't you go back to your little know-it-all friends and leave us alone?" Sirius growled.

"I hope you know that if you didn't have someone as great as her, Potter, you're whole season would start and end just like all the past years'," Gary snapped. "I suggest you show some respect."

"And I suggest you walk away before I end up doing something that someone might regret later," James said icily.

"I suggest you learn how to appreciate what you've got there in front of you and realize that you two aren't everything."

Both Gryffindor and Ravenclaw tables were silent, watching the spectacle that had started just because Gary had told me good job. Guys, I scoffed.

"Don't you be telling me how to run my team!" James shrieked.

"Why? Why? Why? Why? Why…?" I muttered, banging my head repeatedly against the table with each word.

"This isn't even about you!" Gary yelled.

"Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why…?" I continued my little rant.

"It sure seems like it! You Ravenclaws think you're so better than us just because your House is labeled brainy," Sirius sneered. "Sad that you can't even realize what you're saying."

"Are you insulting my House?"

"WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY…?"

"Yeah," Sirius said. "I am. But only because you started it first by insulting mine."

"I did no such thing!"

"…?"

"Would you stop that?" all three of them yelled at me at the same time.

"Don't yell at her!" Sirius yelled at Gary.

"I didn't yell at her! You did!" Gary corrected.

"I think not!" James said angrily. "We'd never do such a thing!"

"Neither would I!"

There was a loud, resounding crack. The table had split beneath my head.

"Knock it off! All of you!" I yelled. "What the hell is this about anyways?"

None of them answered me.

"Gary was only being nice, so James. Sirius. KNOCK YOUR SHIT OFF! Just because he's from another House doesn't mean we have to treat him differently! And as for you," I said, turning to Gary. "I have never seen you that angry. Please don't do that again." I picked up my stuff, and then looked at him again. "Thanks. For congratulating me, that is. I needed it. It made me feel a hell of a lot better. And you two," I glanced over my shoulder at James and Sirius. "I'll see you in class. Cool down by then and try to act civil. In the meantime, I need to find a way to make this bloody headache go away. It feels like my head is still being thrown against that table."

And with that I strode out of the Great Hall, leaving everyone in a shocked silence.

What an interesting lunch this had turned out to be for an interesting day.

Weasley was one of the only professors (along with Adda who would not let it go) that found Sirius' knew look amusing.

Weasley shook his hand and said, "Welcome to Hogwarts Miss Selene Platter. You should fit in very well, so don't worry."

"Thank you very much Professor. Your words have taken a deep effect on me," Sirius said sarcastically. He and James hadn't apologized to me when they showed up, and I knew that I was going to get it later. But as of right now, they pretended everything was normal so as not to attract any more attention to what had happened (if the rumors hadn't spread already).

"How nice of you four to watch over this young lady," Weasley continued, beaming at James, Remus, and I.

"It was the least we could do. You should've seen her when she came in. She was terrified! She was trembling all over," James said in mock sympathy.

"You poor thing," Weasley muttered.

"Oh, don't mind me. I'm almost better now," Sirius said, stalking over to his desk.

"What's wrong with the new girl?" a Hufflepuff girl asked.

"I don't know…but she is hot," the guy sitting next to her said, examining Sirius.

Me, Remus, James, and several other Gryffindors burst out laughing while Sirius slammed his head on the table.

"Sit down everyone so we may begin," Weasley said above all the laughter. His eyes were twinkling with mischief. "And Mr. Hebden, please don't share your obsession with a girl that you hardly know anything about in front of the class. What you find out will surely almost always surprise you."

Again, the Gryffindors laughed, and I could tell the Hufflepuff boy wasn't going to hear the end of this.

"I hate my life," Sirius muttered when I sat next to him.

"Hey, you must be pretty amazing if you attract both genders, right?" I said, trying to cheer him up.

He was silent for a moment. "Is that what this is all about?"

"What do you mean?" Wow. Was this what it took to get him to learn his lessons? A guy calling him hot? Next time I'd just have to have Peter do that.

"The lesson…Lily got jealous of the girls around James, didn't she?"

"Doesn't she always?"

He lifted his head and looked at me thoughtfully. "Then why was I changed?"

"Well," I said thinking back. "Tonks said you were a player and Remus got ticked off at you because what he saw and what he thought didn't match up."

"And that would be…"

"I don't know! Do you think I'm a mind reader or something?"

"Sometimes, yes." He smiled. "Can I be changed back now?"

"Nope. Let me know in Divination what the lesson was."

He glared at me. "You just want Loony Lovegood to see me like this."

"Yep. That's pretty much it."

"Thank the gods we haven't seen Peeves today," he muttered.

"Don't jinx yourself Miss Platter," I chided.

"Don't fool yourself Miss…"

I frowned. "It's so sad to think that you can't even finish a comeback. Now I'm worried about you."

"Aww, I'm touched. But it's your fault this time. You need a last name."

"Like what? Do you have one in mind?"

He hesitated. "No. But when I figure it out, I'll let you know."

"You do that."

"Trust me, I will."

The reaction of my third favorite professor was almost disappointing. All Luna had done was smile and say,

"You remind me of my old friends so much." Sirius and I weren't sure if that was a good or a bad thing.

When the class was reading the Intro to Reading Tea Leaves book, Luna came over with a crystal ball in her hands and sat down across from us.

She smiled warmly at our confused looks and made a motion for us to keep silent. Sirius closed our book and put it away. Luna closed her eyes and her hands levitated above the crystal ball, perfectly still. Murmuring a few words in a strange language, she lowered her hands and opened her eyes, gazing at something in the crystal ball. Her eyes moved back and forth, as if she were watching something. A couple seconds later she blinked and lowered her hands to her side and gave us a smile.

"Well Sirius my dear, don't worry so much. You'll be back to normal before the end of the night. You'll figure it out. And Nike, start looking around. Christmas vacation is coming soon, and I don't think it's a good idea for you to stay on school grounds. Especially if you'll be alone."

"Why?"

She hesitated. "You remember the meeting, yes?" I nodded so she continued. "There's no telling when He'll return, but it's for sure He'll come here. And once He catches wind of you, He won't leave you alone until you've either joined Him, you're dead, or He's dead once and for all…permanently."

"Why?" I asked again.

Luna chuckled quietly, but the laugh was humorless, it was more worried.

"You must know by now, dear, that you're an extremely powerful witch and still you are getting even more powerful each day."

"So he'll want to control me?"

"More or less." Luna glanced at Sirius. "Although I know some people won't let that happen. But just be careful. Things are going to get very confusing, complicated, and heartbreaking. Before this is over, you will have lost yet gained some friends. You'll go through many life changing events, and you'll suffer greatly, but your heart and mind will open more. Am I clear?"

"No," Sirius said, his brow furrowed.

"Good." Luna gave us another small smile and then she said, "Just remember that. Keep your friends close." Louder, Luna said, "Class dismissed! See you tomorrow children!"

A/N: I know, I know, stupid argument…but I needed to throw that out there. Yes, again, the guys don't seem like they're too awfully ticked at Nike…but I'm not sure if I want them to be, or if not. I don't know. A little help, maybe?

Again, I love Luna. She's one of my favorites. You will be seeing even more of her as they get further on in their years. So, if you don't like the weird girl, suck it up. Please. (That was meant in the most nicest and loving way possible!)

Next chapter: Detention!

R&R please!

Nike